How to Renew your British Passport in Thailand
PLEASE NOTE: The procedure for renewing your passport in Thailand has CHANGED. You can now apply in Bangkok. It is also cheaper. Click here for my latest blog about this.
The last time that I had renewed my passport was back in 2003. I had done it at the British Embassy here in Bangkok. Unfortunately, they have now down-sized much of their services in order to save money. Now everyone in this region has to send their application form for a new passport to their office in Hong Kong. It sounds complicated and expensive but as it turned out, it was all quite quick and painless. What I will do now on this blog is to go through the steps that you need to do to get a new passport.
- To apply for, renew or replace a British passport if you are outside of the UK you need to click on this link.
- On the next page make sure you choose Thailand
- They say that it will take 4 weeks to renew your passport. It took me only 17 days
- At time of writing, a new 32 page passport is 7,295 Baht which includes courier fee
- On this page I downloaded the passport application form and the card authorization form as I wanted to use my credit card. Alternatively you can pay with a bankers’ draft
- On the same page there is a link for photo requirements. Please note, the photos of me in the above picture are NOT acceptable. The two photos that I sent showed the face much larger with only the top of my necktie showing.
- You don’t need to have the back of one of the photos signed if you are renewing
- Thailand is one of the few countries that you DON’T need to send your old passport
- On the application form, it asks if you have enclosed your passport. You have to say “yes” even though you don’t include it
- Think carefully about the return address you put. As it comes back by courier, someone needs to be there to sign for it (in my case they were fingerscanned). You might want to put your place of work
- I sent the application form, photocopies of my photo page and visa page in my passport, card authorization form and two photos to the Hong Kong address (*) by EMS at my local post office. This cost 400 Baht.
- Please note, even though I applied in September and my passport expires in December, I didn’t lose those months. I need to double check, but I think they credit you with up to nine months if you apply for your passport early. My new passport now expires in December 2023.
(*) Please note, as of 10 December 2013, you now need to send your passport renewal application to the UK. New passports can still be applied for in Bangkok.
I sent the passport application on 30th August and it came back on 16th September. Quicker than expected. My next task was to visit Immigration to have my “extension of stay” stamps transferred from my old visa to the new one. Please note, Immigration have now changed their regulations. If you renew your “extension of stay” after 13 August 2013 you CANNOT transfer visa stamps to your new passport. I was lucky as I got my renewal done back in March of this year and so I was exempted. It is important that when you next go to renew your “extension of stay” that your passport is valid more than a year. If you only have seven months left they will only give you seven months on your “extension of stay”.
As I didn’t send my old passport with the application there was one thing that needed to be done. It is important that your old passport is cancelled before you go to Immigration. They will tell you that you will need to go to your embassy to get a letter to say that your old passport has been cancelled. But you don’t need to do that. On Twitter last night, @forestmat told me that he cut the corners of the passport himself. I wasn’t sure if this was official or not so I tweeted the question to the British Ambassador Mark Kent @KentBKK. He confirmed in his tweet that you can cancel your old passport yourself by cutting the corner on the front and back pages and also the photo page. This is what I did before going to Immigration this afternoon. Once there, I filled in a form for transferring the stamps across to my new passport. I also had to have photocopies of the photo page, visa page of my old passport and photo page of the new one. The whole process took about ten minutes. There were no fees too.
@RichardBarrow @forestmat You should cut the corners off the front/back covers and photo page of your old passport when you get new one
— Mark Kent (@KentBKK) September 17, 2013
PLEASE NOTE: The procedure for renewing your passport in Thailand has CHANGED. You can now apply in Bangkok. It is also cheaper. Click here for my latest blog about this.
Please note, you can now apply for British Passport in Bangkok. It is also cheaper from April 2014. Click here to read the press releases on this update.
Hi – the original article need to be updated as there has been a major change to the application process as of 26/3/14. You now need to make an appointment at the UK passport office in Bangkok and apply in person – you also need to pick it up from same office in person. BurNot a great move for all of us Uk passport holders living in Thailand but not in Bangkok!.See following advice for detail.
CHANGES TO BRITISH PASSPORT SERVICES IN THAILAND
Her Majesty’s Passport Office is making important changes to the way it delivers British passports overseas. The goal is to ensure that all British nationals living overseas receive a consistent, trusted, secure and efficient service whilst keeping the costs as low as possible. In order to do that, on 10 December 2013, responsibility for handling passport applications in Thailand passed from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to Her Majesty’s Passport Office.
Following on from this, from 26 March 2014, British nationals in Thailand will submit passport applications, in person by appointment only, to the UK Visa Application Centre in Bangkok. All the information needed to complete the passport application process, including the address and contact details for the UK Visa Application Centre, are available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports
This change may seem inconvenient, but the new measures being put in place support the wider public protection, helping to ensure that the risks of fraud and identity theft are minimised for those living and working overseas.
If you need to travel urgently but your passport is not available, you should still contact the Consular Assistance Team at the British Embassy in Bangkok on tel +66 2 305 8333 or e-mail [email protected] In certain circumstances Consular staff may be able to issue an Emergency Travel Document, but this is not a substitute for a full UK passport. So the best course of action is to apply as early as possible, and to make sure that you follow the new guidelines.
Please note that Consular staff at the Embassy in Bangkok will not be able to take calls about individual passport applications and they cannot countersign passport applications. If you cannot find the information you need on GOV.UK you should contact the Passport Adviceline on +44 300 222 0000 (operates from 8am-8pm UK time) or e-mail: [email protected].
Hi Richard, I’m from the UK but coming from Australia. I am going to be in Thailand in April with just under 6 months validity on my passport. I will want to extend my stay with a tourist visa but am aware I will need a new passport. I’ve left myself in a bit of a position as I’ve not wanted to apply for a new passport as I’ve been constantly travelling around and in and out of Australia. I now have to leave! I’m worried if I apply for a passport asap in Thailand, the new one won’t be back with me in time. Alternatively if I try
try a visa run I may be refused re-entry!
Any advice would be welcome thanks.. I’m wondering if I can get a relative to do the urgent service for me in UK..if I send form and photos filled out. Could be slightly quicker if done the day I arrive and posted to me express!!
I think if a relative does it for you in the UK they will need to send in your old passport to be cancelled. In Thailand there is an exemption rule and we can hold onto our old passport during the renewal process. Normally you cannot travel to other countries if you have less than 6 months left on your passport. Sorry, it wouldn’t be right for me to suggest ways to get around the rules in case something happens to you. Anyway, I cannot think of any way out. Other than come here on a 3 month visa and then apply for new passport.
Thanks for the advice. I read I only needed to have enough time on my passport for duration of stay with Thailand so I thought I would be able to get a tourist visa and apply for new passport when I arrive. How can I get a 3 month tourist visa? I’ve read I need 6 months validity to get one. That would be ideal as my new passport would have plenty of time to arrive. Worried I’m going to have to fly home just for a new passport 🙁
Can you cross the Cambodian border and get the 30 day extension with less than 6 months validity on passport? Thought the whole idea of a passport expiry date was that was when it expired, not 5 months before…
For anyone else with a similar issue I have sorted it. I am paying $180 for an emergency passport and applying for new passport now. I’m doing this at the UK Embassy in Melbourne and then I have to go to the Thai Embassy and get my Visa for 60 days. Still not got a solid answer on how i’m going to give proof of Thai address for passport to be sent to. However I was told i can apply now, online and get it sent there so will find out soon..
Hi . . .I will be needing a new passport in next few months as i’m running out of pages i have had numerous double entry tourists visa’s over a 2 year period i have provided english bank statements showing pension income so no need to work but im under 50 so cant get retirement visa . . 2 x questions. 1. I dont have proof of residency as i travel quite a bit (i could get letter from current landlord showing address) would this suffice ? 2. Will new passport ‘re set’ the number of tourist Visa ive had effectively back to zero. Thanks in advance
i don’t think you will be allowed to fly. renew your passport in ausralia
I’m all good, have an emergency passport with a 2 months visa in it from the Thai embassy. It’s all cost a bit but my prob is renewal and providing address proof…
(to get a full passport that is
)
OK thanks – but did you pass in / out of any airport immigration during that time? Is it possible that a passport can be nullified by the UKPO, and then when it’s swiped through the immigration computer it is flagged as invalid / expired?
If you send your old passport in they will cancel it for you. In Thailand you have to keep your passport with you at all times and so I cancelled it myself. I had to do this before I asked Immigration to transfer across my visa stamps. But in theory I could have travelled on the old one still while I was still waiting.
Hi Richard, thanks for this webpage.
I will renew my British passport in the next few months (full of visas, rather than expired). Annoyed it takes “at least 4 weeks from when it is received” (plus 1-2 weeks delivery there and bank) under this brilliant and efficient new arrangement by the Passport Office.
In response to you and Dan on the above point, I last renewed my passport in late 2012. I was told then: when the Hong Kong Passport Office receives the application for renewed passport, it is electronically cancelled. Therefore you cannot travel during the renewal period (which took 3.5 weeks total). I’m sure it is the same now, even when it goes to the UK Passport Office… so best to avoid any travel.
for passports here in Thailand check out the latest info(as of the 26th of march) on http://www.gov.uk i am in the process of renewing my passport as i have run out of pages. the only problem is the website you supposed to book an appointment through to hand in copies of your paper work does not exist. i went to the office today hoping to speak to some one and the office is not even finished. the response from the help line in England is “keep trying i am sure it will be fixed soon”
Dear Richard,
I am a Thai citizen but 2 of my daughters are holding expired British passports.Can I do the renewal for them?.My eldest one is now 16 years old while the younger one is 13 years old.
Usually my husband who is a British would do renewal for them but he die 3 years ago and I don’t know how to apply the passport renewal for them.
Please suggest.
Thanks.
Do you know if you can still travel on your old passport while your new passport is being processed? Or do they invalidate your old one once they receive the application?
I can only speak personally, I sent my application off but kept my old passport with me. If you are applying from Thailand you are allowed to do this. When the new one comes back you technically have two passports. I then cancelled the old passport myself when I was ready.
Hi this is all good information.
I do want to clarify something though. My passport expires on the 2nd September this year, and my visa/work permit needs to be renewed on April 10th. I’m due to go home for a holiday from 13th – 24th March. I’ve now been told that if I don’t renew my passport 6 months in advance, then my visa/work permit will not be valid as renewal date falls within that 6 month period. Another teacher confirms that they went on holiday to Malaysia 5 and a half months before the end of their passport, and then they were not allowed back into Thailand until he had renewed his passport. Do you know anything about this?
Isn’t it standard practice that you cannot go to a country if you have less than 6 months left on it? Thr other thing is, if you renew extend your stay in April it will only be good until September when your passport expires. You should get a new passport now.
things have all changed now. as of the 26th March. you have to get an appointment to hand in copies of your documents. unfortunately the website does not work. i tried going to the office noted on the website ang guess what it not open the builders are still fitting it out
Hi Richard,
I have just received my new passport and would like to thank you for your information. I was wondering, do I need to inform the Department of Land Transport as my driving licence has my old passport number in it? Are there any other authorities I need to inform such as the district office in regards to my house registration or banks?
It’s a good idea to inform your bank, and take your old passport too (if you still have it) as they may ask for it.
Seconded! I had a major problem with my bank not being able to find my account because their system had my old passport number.
It’s a long story so won’t go into details, but definitely get your bank account updated.
Thanks, I didn’t know about that. I thought they just took a photocopy of my passport for ID purposes.
Thai Driving license? If so I don’t think you need to worry as policemen will ask to see your driver’s license and not your passport.
My driving licenses have my new passport number, but old address.
Bah! Can’t be bothered…
I just noticed that my drivers’ license has my old passport number – though starts with an extra “09”. But, I have to renew it next month anyway to get another five years.
Hi Richard,
You mentioned a passport software. What is the name and where can I get it?
As a note I had my passport photo taken here a while ago and it wasn’t accepted in the UK!
Thanks.
Hi one more question – what document did you use to provide name and address proof?. The Retirement Visa is a stamp in the passport with no address against it. I can get a certificate of residency from immigration but that will be in Thai. I have no other documents from stated departments to my name against the address I live at as I do not own the apartment. Your advice appreciated.
Do you need proof of address for renewal?
Hi David,Hi Richard,
Perhaps this will help keep us all up to speed as to MHPO’s current requirements:
This month (Jan 2014) I sent off for a renewed passport, and I experienced a similar situation after HMPO ‘insisted’ that I produce evidence of domicile (proof of address) in Thailand (even though I am a permanent traveller).
Nevertheless, a solution would be that if you have a bank account in Thailand (thankfully I do) then you could ask the manager to prepare a ‘to whom it may concern’ letter/bank statement confirming that you are a client as well as indicating your address.
Apparently, a scanned colour copy will do as this morning I received confirmation via Email from HMPO Liverpool that this will suffice even though it is not on their list of ‘acceptable’ documentation.
I need to say that I find this new policy of providing ‘proof of address’ (I was advised to consult the guidance notes in section 2 on HMPO’s website) a tadge Orwellian for in one Email from HMPO, and in no uncertain terms, I was informed that my passport would not be renewed without my being able to ‘prove’ where I am living. Hope this helps. Best of luck.
Hi – thanks for the info. Good idea – I should have thought of that. I have already been to immigration and got a ‘certificate of residency’ – its in thai so I had this translated by a professional translator who stamped the document. I have also included a P60 from a UK pension company which was sent to myt address for good measure. I have sent both in my pack of required documents.
I could get a letter from my bank but it would be written in Thai. I don’t have to renew my passport until Dec 7 2016, my visa runs out before November 14 2016. I’m with Kasikorn so I might be able to get one in English. The forms are a joke tiny little boxes so I’ll have get some one to fill it out for me. I’m an invalid on a retirement visa and the whole thing is making my head spin. Anyway thanks for your snippet of information I was dreading the thought of having to fly back to the UK.
One question – on the payment form it asks for cardholders address. Is this the address the card is registered to or where I live abroad. I ask as I want to use my Mastercard to pay which is registered to a UK address.
I don’t think it matters.
Thanks for your reply..the problem is that the old passport is cancelled digitally as soon as the new application is in, according to the embassy. Going there tomorrow to try to get an emergency travel document.
Hi, I sent off my passport for renewal and it is being couriered back. Meanwhile I resigned my job and was told we had only a couple of days to leave as my visa would be cancelled with my work permit. Nothing else has been said and I still have the work permit and old passport with my visa in it still valid. I don’t know whether to wait for the new passport to arrive or travel home on an emergency document and have the passports sent on to me.If I get the new passport in time will the visa in it still be valid to leave? The passport has not been cancelled. Or do I try to visit immigration?
I presume your visa will expire in only a few days. Difficult for me to give me advice if I don’t have your fall story. As I see it, you could overstay your visa and wait for your new passport to arrive. Then surrender yourself at the airport when you fly home paying the 300B per day overstay fine. Your new passport won’t have a visa and you cannot transfer one that has expired. Don’t cancel your old passport as you need it to leave.
Lodgging application form personally at the British Embassy in Bangkok is also possible?
I think you can only do this for first passports and emergency passports. Not renewal. Check their website.
Correction… not to send passport renewal application to Hong Kong, but to UK?
Please advise.
You need to click through to their website as some things might have changed since I did it a few months ago. But yes, I am told you now send to the UK.
I am currently do my applicantion so because we live in thailand we do not need to send our old passports off?
Mine has just ran out of pages but I think I need to renew 3 years before date as no space for visas?
Anyone have advice?
Hi Mr. Richard. I am Ton working as a secretary at International Forest Monastery in Ubonratchathani, Thailand. Your information is accurate, but does this means that I have to send British passport renewal application (“OS Form”) to Hong Kong?
I am renewing a British Passport for a British Monk living in Ubonratchathani, Thailand. So, this means that he just fill in the forms and mail it to Hong Kong by registered express courier (EMS) and does not have to travel down to British Embassy. Thanks.
Check the update above as you now have to send application to the UK. All up-to-date info on their website.
Hi Richard,
First off, thank you for the work you do.
I am in the process of requesting a replacement British passport.
I am writing today to ask you whether you are aware that the current guidelines on the gov.uk link@ https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult(02/01/14)request that ones entire passport be photocopied – quote:(You must send a full colour photocopy of your entire current passport (every page including blank pages). Don’t send your current passport with your application – you can keep it for security and ID purposes – but you can’t travel with it after you’ve applied for a new one!!!).
I would like to know whether you are aware of this recent policy and especially the passport office’s clause that one is not permitted to travel after one has applied for the renewal of a British passport.
I await your response at your earliest convenience.
Warmest regards for the New Year.
Rupert
I wasn’t aware. Must be something new as you now have to send your application to the UK and not Hong Kong like before.
The British Ambassador did reply to my tweet and said that cutting corners should be OK and that he would contact me and Samui Immigration… The next day BE replied to my initial e-mail and asked me to scan both passports and send via e-mail.. However BE was unable to open my attachments but phoned and ask for some details over the phone and said they would send a letter tomorrow via EMS confirming old passport is cancelled .. So result!
It seems Easier to get a new passport than to cancel the old one …
I asked about not being able to open my attachments and they said their systems was blocked from opening certain sites such as facebook ..seems strange
Re Canceling old passport , I have just spent hours at Samui Immigration with the corners of my old passport cut but they will only accept a letter from the Embassy before transferring visas etc … So I am now trying to find out how one goes about obtaining such … any clues ?
It seems not all immigration departments have the same policy !
Yes strange, mine didn’t want a letter. Maybe go back the next day and say the embassy told you there is no need for a letter as it is cancelled already. Otherwise you could try tweeting the ambassador on @KentBKK
I left my passport with the head of the office and she said she would check with the Embassy , went back the next day and was told that I need a letter , She gave me a number to phone , which turned out to be a recorded message loop eventually telling me to phone the UK ! I have now e-mailed the embassy and await their response ..
Good luck with that – the British Embassy are notoriously terrible at communicating. Emails never get answered and very difficult to speak to someone by phone.
The British Ambassador is very good at replying to tweets.
Re Cancelling old passport…same, same…
I had the exact same problem in Hua Hin, incidentally on the same date 13th December 2013.
In spite of attending the immigration office on the exact day my old passport expired 13/12/2013 with corners cut off etc. and with the expensive replacement new passport obtained via Hong Kong in hand…
Immigration Hua Hin insisted I needed a letter from the Consulate in Bangkok, it appears Mark Kent and immigration Thailand aren’t singing from the same sheet?
An email address / telephone number would be appreciated before I get into the usual never ending UK.Gov answer machine loop!
Hi Richard,
Do you know if we have to submit our old passport with the changes? I’ve checked on the embassy’s website and there is a new form to fill in and it says complete and send in with all un-cancelled passports.
It said that last time but there was a footnote recognizing the fact that in Thailand we must have our passport with us at all times.
From 10 December 2013, you now have to submit your passport renewals to Her Majesty’s Passport Office in the UK.
Hi Richard, lots of great advice here, thank you!
My question is as my 2 month tourist visa expires Jan 31st, then I extend by one month at immigration. Meanwhile my new passport arrives before end Jan. So,is it still valid so I can just leave Thailand on my old passport and visa end Feb and arrive back on my new passport + visa on arrival for example?
As long as your old passport is still valid when you leave then there is no problem. Then come back on your new passport. Just don’t forget if you apply for a visa for another country they like to see six months left on your passport
Thanks Richard. A couple of more things.
I see I need official evidence of my address in Thailand, but I don’t have any, any suggestions?
It also lists ‘baptismal or naming certificate’ as an option – a birth certificate I guess? But this doesn’t prove address?
Can you recommend anywhere that does correct passport photos?
Aren’t you supposed to fill in the form with black ink? 🙂
I’m working in Thailand as a teacher, my passport has only one page left with my entry stamp on. i need to renew my passport before getting the extension of my non immigrant b visa (the stamp for extension is quite large and i’m worried about immigration not being able to extend it in time as my school takes their time sorting out everything) so i want to apply for a new passport before the extension…but…can they transfer my non immigrant b visa? you said they couldn’t transfer extension of stay, but can they transfer a visa?
any help would be greatly appreciated. so far i’ve been having a nightmare with immigration in Mae hong son
thanks
Cassie
I read somewhere that in the case of residing in Thailand you could renew your Uk passport up to 18 months before expiry
A few points:
– When renewing a child passport, you *DO* need to get the back of the photograph signed by someone. It seems that the person who signs can be any reasonably upstanding person who is either British, an EU national or Thai, and they have to have known you (not the child) for at least 2 years. They don’t have to be a doctor, teacher, lawyer, etc., even though it says this in the guidance notes. So, it seems that you could’t get an American to sign, for example, but a French IT Manager or a Thai doctor would be acceptable.
– Child passports are also cheaper, at around 5,000 THB. This still strikes me as very expensive though.
– They relax the rules on photos a bit for children under 5 years old: they don’t need to have a neutral expression, and if the child is under 1 year they don’t need to have their eyes open. I would guess they’re a bit more lenient all round with child photos, but it is still sensible to get as close to the adult requirements as you can.
– The Embassy in Bangkok can still process a first British passport, e.g. for your son or daughter. I think they might still send all the paperwork off to Hong Kong, but they accept everything at the British Embassy here.
I want to know if this procedure applies to me as I have a 30 day stamp in my old passport and will exit Thailand by land to get a new visa. Do I cut the passport myself before arriving at immigration?
I’m not clear what you are saying by “Immigration”. If you mean immigration at the border then don’t cancel your old passport if it is still valid and it has your only valid visa. If you mean Thai embassy then present your new passport for the new visa. Cancel your old passport by cutting the corner only when you are sure there is nothing in it you still need.
Kudos for Amazing site.
I cannot see any mention on official BKK website as to whether submitted photos must be digital, non-digital or either.
The measurement requirements if not via digital look “challenging”.
Did I miss what should be obvious ? I recall 10yrs back could not submit a digital photo although page in received passport was magically “digitized” here.
What did you do ? And is there a choice ?
Thks / Eddie
I have a passport photo program on my computer. Much easier than going to the shop as rules are strict. Not only the size of the photo, but also the size of your face in the print. It was a small price to pay for this program compared to the large amount I saved not going to photo shops over the years. I ended up with a photo file which I then took to the photo shop to print for only 5 Baht. If I had gone there to have my picture taken it would have been like 150 Baht.
Two points strike me as very odd:
1. “it asks if you have enclosed your passport. You have to say “yes” even though you don’t include it” – seems that is just begging for a problem to arise
2. “There were no fees too.” – simply unbelievable. 😉
So what do they do now if they can’t even supply passports? Nice building. Must be worth a few quid.
Speaking personally, it is actually more convenient for me to go to my local post office to send off the application and have it delivered back to my house 17 days later. Quick and efficient compared to those poor souls who have to take time off work to travel into Bangkok to first file an application and then later take more time off work to go and pick it up. No complaints from me.
Hi Richard, Slightly off topic . . . I have been in Thailand some 18 months initially 3 x Entry entry tourist and then 2 x entry Visa from Vietienne Laos. I need a further 2 x entry from Laos but have heard os some people being refused and some people ok ?? Last time with Bangkok Buddy service all good no problems. Just want to be sure or 95 % sure that will not be refused ??
Any advice most welcome ?
cheers, Neil.
With things like that, there are no guarantees. The more visa runs you do, the more risks you take.
were do you send it to in hong kong
Follow the link and there is an address.